NTCA Applauds Broadband Provisions in Senate Farm Bill

NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association today released the following statement from CEO Shirley Bloomfield regarding the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act (Farm Bill) released by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ReConnect Loan and Grant Program and other USDA broadband programs that would be authorized by this Farm Bill are critical to helping meet the connectivity needs of rural Americans. We appreciate Chairwoman Stabenow’s focus on ensuring ReConnect is authorized as part of the bill and believe the program’s broadband speed standards will help ensure rural consumers can receive the same level of service as those in urban areas, while targeting funding to areas most in need of service. NTCA members and staff have welcomed the opportunity to testify before the Senate and House Agriculture Committees to share the importance of investing in broadband networks built for the long term and encouraging coordination across federal broadband programs. We are pleased to see a commitment to these standards of service in the Chairwoman’s Farm Bill.  

“We thank Chairwoman Stabenow and other members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for their work and recognition that broadband is critically important to the future of rural America. We look forward to working with both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees to move a Farm Bill forward.”